Tip leads to arrest of search suspect

OROVILLE — A wanted man who evaded an extensive search last week on Grand Avenue was arrested Sunday afternoon in Oroville, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Ryan Blinston, 29, had been the subject of a search Wednesday after a sheriff's deputy noticed him driving a white Lexus on Grand Avenue and recognized him as a wanted man.

When deputy Brad Meyer attempted to stop the car, Blinston sped away and pulled the Lexus into an apartment complex at 54 Grand Ave.

Blinston then ran off.

Officers from several law enforcement agencies helped search the apartment complex and surrounding area, but Blinston wasn't found.

The Lexus was recovered and found to be stolen. Three firearms taken in burglaries in Chico and Butte County were also recovered from the car.

On Sunday afternoon around 3:30 p.m., the Sheriff's Office received an anonymous call reporting Blinston was at a residence in Oroville.

Deputies responded to the unidentified address, with assistance from several agencies, and set up a perimeter around the area.

When the deputies entered the residence, Blinston was taken into custody without incident, according to a press release Monday.

He was booked into the Butte County Jail on a no-bail felony warrant and on new charges of suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property. Bail on the new charges was set at $30,000.